“As to that,” he began, “I have come to make a suggestion to you.”

He paced a little, then took a seat in one of the armchairs. The heavy drapes were closed, keeping in the warmth from the stove.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I don’t have time, cara. I’m sorry. But I have been thinking about the best solution for you and the baby, and I would like to present it to you. You say you want to give up your child and find a good family for him. Well, I have found one.”

“You have?” I could hear my voice wobble because this sounded so final.

He nodded. “I would like to adopt him legally and raise him in my home as my son. He will inherit everything, including the title one day. He will be well looked after and loved. Does this meet with your approval?”

I was so stunned I couldn’t say anything as I tried to come to terms with this. “But what about Bianca?” My voice was now shrill. The shock had been great. “Surely she will not welcome another woman’s child into her home, especially if she found out the child was a result of our affair?”

He shrugged. “Bianca can’t have children, so it seems. I didn’t find this out until we married. Her doctor says ‘can’t have,’ but it might be ‘won’t have.’ Either way, I would have no heir unless our son is legally mine.”

“You’re very sure it’s going to be a boy.”

He gave a cocky smile. “The men in my family are very virile. We produce sons.”

“And if it’s a girl? You won’t want her?”

“It won’t be.” He leaned forward and grasped both my hands. “So does this make sense to you? It is a good solution, is it not? For both of us?”

“How do I know Bianca will treat the baby well? She may be jealous. I wouldn’t want to put my child into danger.”

“Bianca could not be less interested in babies, I assure you. We will hire the best nursemaid, and he will be loved and spoiled.”

“How will you explain this sudden arrival of a baby to the community? I’ve already been made aware of the power of gossip in this town.”

“Ah, I’ve thought of that, too. It is a relative’s child. From somewhere out in the countryside. She gave birth, bravely, but she is dying. I promised to keep the child within the family. That’s what we do here.”

I had been trying to digest this as he spoke. But another thought, a small sliver of hope, was creeping into my mind. “Leo, if Bianca can’t have children and she deceived you on this, isn’t that grounds for annulment?”